Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project – Draft EIS
A.0
LYNX
Blue Line
Extension
ABSTRACT
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA),
prepared this Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the extension of the LYNX Blue
Line, called the LYNX Blue Line Extension Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project (LYNX BLE) in
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Draft EIS will allow decision-makers to evaluate the social,
economic, environmental and transportation effects associated with a proposed light rail extension from
Center City Charlotte to I-485 near the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus County line, relative to a No-Build
Alternative.
Part of the project development process for projects seeking federal funding is preparation of an EIS in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. NEPA requires that
federal decision-making take into account the potential impacts of a proposed project and its alternatives
on the natural and human environment. If substantial environmental impacts are anticipated and cannot
be avoided, a plan for mitigating these impacts must be proposed. As part of the decision-making
process, reasonable alternatives that would avoid or reduce adverse impacts must be considered,
analyzed, and documented. In addition, the public must be given adequate opportunity to comment on a
proposed project, and the project must be coordinated with appropriate agencies.
The purpose of a Draft EIS is to document the purpose and need for the project; present a discussion of
all reasonable alternatives considered; describe in detail the anticipated social, environmental, economic,
and transportation-related effects of the proposed project; and identify appropriate mitigation measures to
offset unavoidable impacts. This detailed analysis of costs, ridership, and environmental consequences
will assist decision-makers and the public in evaluating the relative merits of the proposed project.
The information presented in this Draft EIS is based on numerous technical studies and reflects
comments or suggestions from interested and affected parties made during the evaluation of alternatives.
Impact information is based on design assumptions as shown in the 30% Preliminary Engineering Design
Plans completed March 2010. Figures are located at the end of each chapter, where applicable.
Supporting documentation can be found in Appendices D through H. The document has been circulated
to federal, state, and local agencies as well as the general public to solicit comments. Copies of this
document have also been made available for public review.
Written comments will be accepted for a period of 45 days from the date of distribution of the Draft EIS
and the publication of the formal Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and local newspapers.
Comments will also be accepted in writing and verbally at formal public hearings scheduled during the
public comment period.
Based on the review of the analysis presented in the Draft EIS and comments received, decision-makers
will determine whether to advance the proposed light rail line in the Northeast Corridor and whether to
advance the Light Rail Alternative or the Light Rail Alternative – Sugar Creek Design Option. A Final EIS
will be prepared to respond to the comments and issues raised during the circulation of the Draft EIS. The
document will be circulated for agency review and then FTA, as the lead Federal agency, will render its
formal decision on the proposed project in a Record of Decision (ROD).
A public hearing will be held on September 22, 2010 to provide the public with opportunities to comment
on this Draft EIS and the proposed project. Comments will be accepted until October 12, 2010. More
detailed information about public and agency involvement activities is provided in Chapter 22.0.
For further information about this Draft EIS, or to provide formal written comments on this document,
please contact:
Mr. Keith Melton, Community Planner
Federal Transit Administration, Region IV
230 Peachtree, NW, Suite 800
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 856-5600
Keith.Melton@dot.gov
Abstract
Judy Dellert-O’Keef, Communications Officer
Charlotte Area Transit System
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 432-0477
bluelineextension@charlottenc.gov
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